What are the home mortgages like in Mexico? How long are home mortgage terms and how much down payment is required?
Carmella Peters Romero - Peters & Romero
The term of a home mortgage in Mexico varies anywhere between 10 to 20 years. Usually, you would need to put a down payment of at least 20%. From the perspective of an American, the interest rate for mortgages here in Mexico is quite high, starting at 8%.
A foreigner can get a mortgage in Mexico. You have to show that you have a steady income or that you have the ability to pay by showing sufficient assets. Getting a loan from a bank can be a lengthy...
The term of a home mortgage in Mexico varies anywhere between 10 to 20 years. Usually, you would need to put a down payment of at least 20%. From the perspective of an American, the interest rate for mortgages here in Mexico is quite high, starting at 8%.
A foreigner can get a mortgage in Mexico. You have to show that you have a steady income or that you have the ability to pay by showing sufficient assets. Getting a loan from a bank can be a lengthy process because the banks are so meticulous, so it is advisable to use the services of a mortgage broker.
While the practice of purchasing a property using a mortgage to cover a significant portion of the cost is very familiar to many Canadians and Americans, Mexicans tend to use their own resources to cover most if not all of the purchase price.
(Penthouse in Polanco, D.F., Mexico City, Mexico, pictured.)
What's the dress code in Algarve? What clothes do they wear in Algarve?
Luis Teixeira da Silva - Algarve Senior Living
The dress code in the Algarve is “smart casual” or “casual.” There’s no one with a tie here unless that person works in a bank. If you come along with a tie then we’ll know that you’re from another city or another part of the country.
Our clothes style here in the Algarve is generally very relaxed—chinos, beige slacks, and so forth. We also fit in with the season and a very bright...
The dress code in the Algarve is “smart casual” or “casual.” There’s no one with a tie here unless that person works in a bank. If you come along with a tie then we’ll know that you’re from another city or another part of the country.
Our clothes style here in the Algarve is generally very relaxed—chinos, beige slacks, and so forth. We also fit in with the season and a very bright environment, even though the Portuguese tradition is one of wearing fairly dark clothes, particularly in the winter, including a lot of burgundy and black clothing. Generally in Algarve you’ll find a lot lighter colors—the blues, the beiges, the pinks, etc. It’s a very laidback, relaxed environment.
You won’t find the truly sloppy like you would see in Central America with shorts, flip-flops and T-shirts. You wouldn’t have the sort of the rag tag of people mulling about unshaven and with long hair. Having said that, we have a lot of wealthy people who just choose to walk in flip-flops. They will, however, look very proper as they walk in their flip-flops and nice shorts and maybe nice jersey or cardigan hung over their shoulders if it’s a cold evening.
(Traditional Portuguese clothing for women-- not what they wear every day, pictured.)
Do I still have to file my US income taxes if I retire, work or just live abroad?
Stewart Patton - U.S. Tax Services
Yes, Americans who live abroad are still required to file a U.S. tax return, even if there's no tax due. In fact, filing an annual U.S. tax return is actually MORE important once you live abroad. Here's why:
You may be familiar with the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (the "FEIE")--that's the rule that allows Americans living abroad to make up to about $100,000 from working without paying any U.S. income tax. Some people think that...
Yes, Americans who live abroad are still required to file a U.S. tax return, even if there's no tax due. In fact, filing an annual U.S. tax return is actually MORE important once you live abroad. Here's why:
You may be familiar with the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (the "FEIE")--that's the rule that allows Americans living abroad to make up to about $100,000 from working without paying any U.S. income tax. Some people think that it's not important to file a return if their income is below the FEIE cap.
However, the FEIE can ONLY be claimed on a filed tax return. So, if you were to fail to file a U.S. tax return and the IRS were to audit you, you would lose the ability to claim the FEIE. You couldn't tell the IRS at that point that your income was below the FEIE cap each year. You'd have to pay U.S. tax on amounts that you would have been able to earn tax-free if you'd only filed a return. So, failing to file a return could cause you to lose the golden opportunity provided by the FEIE.
For Americans who are behind on U.S. tax returns, the IRS has several amnesty programs that will allow you to catch up easily without having to pay any penalties. Talk to an experienced tax attorney to determine which amnesty program is right for you.
How's the kayaking in and around Nicaragua and the rafting in and around Nicaragua?
Sendy Tijerino
Nicaragua should be a natural destination for kayakers and rafters, as its mountains and rivers combine to create some truly world-class rapids.
The most popular kayaking trip involves setting off from Granada for a passage though "Las Isletas" on Lake Nicaragua. It’s usually a great way to spend a day;early as adventurous is the trip down the historic San Juan River, where paddlers
can...
Nicaragua should be a natural destination for kayakers and rafters, as its mountains and rivers combine to create some truly world-class rapids.
The most popular kayaking trip involves setting off from Granada for a passage though "Las Isletas" on Lake Nicaragua. It’s usually a great way to spend a day;early as adventurous is the trip down the historic San Juan River, where paddlers
can battle the heat, also you can visit the waspan river, where you can find a adventurous good rapids.
Is it safe to drink the water in the Panama City, Panama area of San Francisco?
David Lim
Yes, I would say that the water is safe to drink in all areas of Panama City, including San Francisco, which is an area of Panama City. There are only a few places in Panama that you cannot drink the water from the tap, because there are some places that are less developed, but in the big cities and in other developed places, the water is really, really good. I drink water from the tap in all places in Panama City, as well as in Coronado, and I never get sick.
Yes, I would say that the water is safe to drink in all areas of Panama City, including San Francisco, which is an area of Panama City. There are only a few places in Panama that you cannot drink the water from the tap, because there are some places that are less developed, but in the big cities and in other developed places, the water is really, really good. I drink water from the tap in all places in Panama City, as well as in Coronado, and I never get sick.
He nailed it- though one need not be an economist or financial 'expert' to see the blindingly obvious.
Free market principles are unfeasible in practice. Adam Smith in the 1770's made the [then] reasonable assumption that resources were inexhaustible but with the Industrial revolution and a world of 7 billion consumers, we realised this is no longer true. So the free market is a myth and increasingly outside interference has become unavoidable. The...
On September 7, the Panama men’s and women’s flag football national teams will be flying to Grosseto, Italy, for the International Federation of American Football Flag Football World Championship. Originally scheduled for August 13-15, in Jerusalem, the tournament had to be moved because of the violence in that region.
This event has been held every two years since 2002 and is the showpiece event for senior national teams competing in 5-on-5 flag...
The term of a home mortgage in Mexico varies anywhere between 10 to 20 years. Usually, you would need to put a down payment of at least 20%. From the perspective of an American, the interest rate for mortgages here in Mexico is quite high, starting at 8%. 
The dress code in the Algarve is “smart casual” or “casual.” There’s no one with a tie here unless that person works in a bank. If you come along with a tie then we’ll know that you’re from another city or another part of the country. 
Yes, Americans who live abroad are still required to file a U.S. tax return, even if there's no tax due. In fact, filing an annual U.S. tax return is actually MORE important once you live abroad. Here's why: 
What does it take to build a house in Panama? 
On September 7, the Panama men’s and women’s flag football national teams will be flying to Grosseto, Italy, for the International Federation of American Football Flag Football World Championship. Originally scheduled for August 13-15, in Jerusalem, the tournament had to be moved because of the violence in that region. 
